The company, whose micro-processors are used in around 80pc of the world's computers, informed staff that it was seeking the redundancies as part of the closure of the "Fab 10" facility at its Co Kildare site.

A number of staff have been reassigned or have been able to upskill to remain with Intel, but about 100 redundancies are required.

"We looked at several different options for the staff but for a variety of reasons, be they personal or their own skill set, not all of the staff at Fab 10 can be transferred to other areas," a spokesman said.

The factory employs about 500 staff but has not been running at full capacity for a number of years.

Meanwhile 28 people are to lose their jobs at a German-owned manufacturing company that is to close at the end of April.

Workers at the Heimbach factory in Tralee, Co Kerry, were informed of the company's decision to close its plant at the Clash Industrial Estate and move its operations to factories in Europe. The company, which manufactures screens for making paper, has been in Co Kerry for the 36 years.